Misplacing a check is easily done. The difficult part is figuring out what to do once it resurfaces months, or even years, later.

Do Checks Expire?

Legally, banks are only required to honor checks for six months. Beyond that, it is up to the bank's discretion, which may include contacting the account holder for approval. The bank can also simply bounce the check without even trying to reach out, and that means the depositor may get hit with a "deposit item returned" fee that can be up to $30 or more.

On the flip side, a several-months'-old personal check may fall off the issuer's radar. Practically all checking accounts have zero interest, meaning most people only keep just enough to pay the bills in the account. So when the forgotten check resurfaces without warning, there may not be enough funds in the account to cover it. This is why it is always best to contact the issuer before attempting to cash a stale check. Making the call may be awkward, but accidentally slapping Grandma with a hefty overdraft fee is worse.  Ask for a new check if the old one is past the six-month mark.

Do Personal Checks Expire More Quickly Than Company-Printed Checks?

There is no technical difference between personal and company-printed checks, but the risk of triggering fees is slightly higher with personal checks, as companies are less likely to carry bare-bones balances.

Some checks come printed with text stating the check becomes void after 90 days. This can be safely disregarded as a ploy to nudge people to not sit on the check for too long; the six-month rule applies regardless of what is printed on the check.